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Other Technical Occupations in Therapy and Assessment  (NOC 3235)
Estrie Region
Description |  Titles |  Duties |   Related Occupations

This unit group includes workers, not elsewhere classified, who perform various technical therapy and assessment functions. Some may assist professionals such as audiologists, speech-language pathologists, ophthalmologists and physiotherapists. They are employed in hospitals, clinics, extended care facilities, rehabilitation centres, educational institutions and in the private practices of the professionals they assist. Massage therapists may also be self-employed.

audio prosthetist, audiology technician, audiometric assistant, audiometric technician, hearing aid consultant, massage therapist (MT), ophthalmic assistant, ophthalmic technician, ophthalmic technologist, physical rehabilitation technician, physiotherapy technician, speech technician, speech therapist aide, speech therapy aide.

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The following is a summary of the main duties for some occupations in this unit group:
  • Audio prosthetists examine clients to determine appropriate type of hearing aid; may test patient's hearing; take ear impressions for use in the manufacture of the devices; fit and adjust hearing aids; and perform follow-up examinations and readjustments.
  • Audiometric assistants administer, under the supervision of audiologists, tests such as speech reception and speech discrimination to determine the hearing thresholds of patients; and record these test results.
  • Communication assistants carry out remedial programs, under the supervision of speech-language pathologists, to rehabilitate patients with communicative disorders.
  • Massage therapists assess clients by conducting range of motion and muscle testing and propose treatment plans; treat soft tissues and joints of the body through soft tissue manipulation, hydrotherapy, remedial exercise programs and client self-help programs; provide courses of treatment for medical conditions and injuries or wellness maintenance; maintain records of treatments given; and may work with other health care professionals when appropriate.
  • Ophthalmic medical assistants operate ophthalmic testing and measuring instruments to aid ophthalmologists to assess patients' vision; record test results; assist ophthalmologists in office surgery; and administer eye drops, ointments and medications as directed by ophthalmologists.
  • Physical rehabilitation technicians carry out, under physiotherapists' direction, treatment programs such as massage, thermotherapy, traction and hydrotherapy to rehabilitate injured or disabled individuals.
Included Cities in Region | Service Canada Offices

Sherbrooke, Coaticook, Lac-Mégantic, Richmond, Asbestos, Bromptonville, Cookshire, Danville, East Angus, Fleurimont, Lennoxville, Magog, Rock Forest, Valcourt, Windsor

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View a list of Service Canada offices in this area.

Outlook & Prospects for Other Technical Occupations in Therapy and Assessment in Estrie Region

The future forecast and current conditions for an occupation can vary based on location or due to changes in the economy, technology, or demand for a product or service.

National Outlook – 10-Year Projection (2011-2020)

This section provides labour demand and labour supply projections for this occupation over the 2011-2020 period.

Note: The tables, graphs and middle paragraph shown under this section display updated 2011-2020 projection results. The remaining narrative text (2009-2018 projections) will be updated shortly. We apologize for the inconvenience.

The data in the following table are derived from HRSDC’s Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS). COPS uses a variety of models to produce a detailed 10-year labour market projection per broad skill level and per occupation at the national level, which focuses on the trends of labour supply and labour demand over the next ten years.

This occupation (Other Technical Occupations in Therapy and Assessment) is part of a larger occupational group called Other Technical Occupations in Health Care (Except Dental) (NOC 323).

Table on the demographic profile for your chosen occupation at the national level.
Occupations in this group Opticians (3231) 
Midwives and Practitioners of Natural Healing (3232) 
Licensed Practical Nurses (3233) 
Ambulance Attendants and Other Paramedical Occupations (3234) 
Other Technical Occupations in Therapy and Assessment (3235) 
Employment (non-student) in 2010 124,682
Median Age of workers in 2010 40
Average Retirement Age in 2010 60

Occupation Projection for Canada

Over the 2008-2010 period, employment in this occupation increased at a rate similar to that for all occupations. The unemployment rate remained steady and very low. The average hourly wage increased at the same rate as for other occupations. According to key labour market indicators, the number of job seekers was sufficient to fill the job openings in this occupation.

Over the 2011-2020 period, an occupation will be in excess demand (a shortage of workers) if the projected number of job openings is significantly greater than the projected number of job seekers. An occupation will be in excess supply (a surplus of workers) if the projected number of job openings is smaller than the projected number of job seekers. For Other Technical Occupations In Health Care (Except Dental), over the 2011-2020 period, job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 62,326 and 56,447 job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill the job openings.

Based on projections and considering that labour supply and demand in this occupation were balanced over the 2008-2010 period, it is expected that the number of job seekers will continue to be sufficient to fill the job openings over the 2011-2020 period. Job openings will arise due to employment growth and replacement demand in almost equal parts. As with most occupations in the health sector, the aging population will put pressure on the demand for technical health care workers. The retirement rate in this occupation will be on par with the average for all occupations. Almost all job seekers will come directly from the school system. In addition, an analysis of recent school leavers in this occupational category showed that a significant proportion of school leavers in these fields of study, such as health care technicians and nursing graduates, entered occupations outside the health sector. The main reason for this is likely the difficult working conditions (night shifts, overtime, etc.), which discourage some school leavers from entering or remaining in the occupation.

This Chart contains data for Projection of Job Openings vs. Job Seekers for Canada. Information is available in the following tables.

This Chart contains data for Projection of Job Openings vs. Job Seekers for Canada. Information is available in the following tables.
Table of job opening projections for the occupational group containing your chosen occupation.
Category Openings %
Expansion Demand 24,542 39%
Retirements 31,398 50%
Other Replacement Demand 3,502 6%
Emigration 2,884 5%
Projected Job Openings 62,326 100%
Table of job seeker projections for the occupational group containing your chosen occupation.
Category Seekers %
School Leavers 42,944 76%
Immigration 3,729 7%
Other 9,775 17%
Projected Job Seekers 56,447 100%
[ Source: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) ]

In which industry or sector do people in this occupation find jobs in Canada?

This table shows the industry and sectors employing the highest number of people in this occupation.

This table shows the industry sectors employing the highest number of people in this occupation.
Industry / Sector %
Other services (except public administration) 49.80
Health care and social assistance 41.50
Educational services 2.00
[ Source: 2006 Census - Statistics Canada | Legal note ]

What percentage of people in this occupation are self-employed?

The graph displays the percentage of people in this occupation who are “self-employed”, according to the 2006 Census, in comparison to the Canadian average across all occupations.

As shown in the graph, according to the 2006 Census, 57% of people in this occupation were self-employed, while the average for all occupations was 12%.

The Labour Force Survey also gives us some information about self-employment. This occupation (Other Technical Occupations in Therapy and Assessment) is part of a larger group called Other Technical Occupations in Health Care (Except Dental) (NOC 323). According to the Labour Force Survey (2009), 18% of workers in this group were self-employed, while the average for all occupations was 16%.

[ Source: Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | Legal note ]

What proportion of people in this occupation work full-time and part-time?

The graph displays the proportion of people in this occupation who worked full-time and part-time in comparison to the Canadian average across all occupations.

According to the Labour Force Survey (2009), 60% of workers in this occupation worked full-time, compared to the average of 81% for all occupations.

[ Source: Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | Legal note ]

What proportion of men and women work in this occupation?

The graph displays the proportion of men and women in this occupation in comparison to the Canadian average across all occupations.

According to the Labour Force Survey (2009), women represented 74% of workers in this occupation, compared to the average of 48% for all occupations.

[ Source: 2006 Census - Statistics Canada / Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | Legal note ]

What percentage of people in this occupation are members of a union?

This occupation (Other Technical Occupations in Therapy and Assessment) is part of a larger group called Other Technical Occupations in Health Care (Except Dental) (NOC 323). According to the Labour Force Survey (2009), the unionization rate for this group was 75%, while the unionization rate for all occupations was 31%.

[ Source: Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | Legal note ]
Please consult the Estrie Region and Québec tabs for more useful information related to outlook.